Intervenção com auriculoterapia em policiais penais do Paraná: efeitos sobre os transtornos mentais comuns

Abstract

Auriculotherapy is a therapeutic technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves stimulating specific points on the ear canal to modulate body functions by activating the Central Nervous System. Studies have demonstrated its potential as a complementary approach to managing emotional disorders such as stress, anxiety, and depression — conditions that are increasingly affecting various populations. Among the vulnerable groups, prison officers stand out, as they are professionals who are frequently exposed to intense and continuous stressors that directly impact their mental health. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of auriculotherapy in the treatment of Common Mental Disorders in prison officers in the state of Paraná. The sample consisted of 59 prison officers from the Francisco Beltrão State Penitentiary and the Pato Branco Public Jail. Participants underwent eight weekly auriculotherapy sessions and were assessed before and after the intervention using sociodemographic questionnaires, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Perception and Stress Scale, and the Quality of Life Scale. Blood samples were collected to measure cortisol and oxidative stress, and the Ryodoraku energy test. Sociodemographic data showed a predominance of males (57.6%), aged between 40 and 50 years, with a high workload and little availability of leisure time. The majority reported considering work stressful (89.7%) and reported a lack of emotional support (76.2%). After the intervention, a significant reduction in stress levels was observed in psychometric data, with an increase in the proportion of individuals classified as “normal”. Regarding quality of life, there was a significant improvement in the “General Health” domain in both sexes, and in the “Emotional Aspects” domain mainly in men. The analysis of oxidative stress showed a significant increase in the levels of thiol proteins (P-SH) and a decrease in lipid peroxidation, estimated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method. The analyses of Ryodoraku and cortisol did not show significant differences after treatment. The evidence suggests that auriculotherapy may constitute a promising complementary care strategy in promoting the mental health of prison officers, with an improvement in the redox state, especially considering the high load of occupational stress characteristic of the activities developed in correctional units.